DESIGN NAME: Shui Cultural Center
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Cultural Center
INSPIRATION: The Cultural Center is inspired by Shui minority sacrificial rites, where bronze drums and altars are regarded as symbols of power. The architecture also evokes Shui unique pictograms. From the outside, with its water square, it stands as an open memorial place. While inside visitors are immerged into an introverted ritual atmosphere.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Located in the Southern Guizhou Province, Shui Cultural Center is a gateway to Sandu County, the land of the Shui. It includes three main stripes, combining all the functions of the tourist-cultural center. With its iconic and distinct shape, it stands as an homage to the local culture and traditional architecture. The Shui culture is evoked using particular materials and shapes and recreating a ritual space, able to lead visitors into Shui’s ancestral world.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The building guides visitors step by step into Shui’s ritual world. Starting from the open water memorial square, behind which the building shines with its bronze perforated skin which remembers sacrificial altars. To the interiors strongly characterized by the sharp pitched roof, which aims to recreate an intimate dramatic atmosphere.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: Design: June 2016 - October 2016
Location: Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
Construction: October 2016 - November 2017
Location: Sandu County, Guizhou Province, China
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Architecture, Building and Structure Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: 1. Fair-faced Concrete: strongly marked by a wooden pattern, given by the pine quarterdecks
2. Copper Steel Plates: twelve industrial processes recreate the peculiar texture of the bronze used in Shui minority’s ancient rituals
3. Colorful Transparent Glass: Shui Characters, mainly used during ceremonies and sacrifices, are printed on colored glasses, filtering the light and evoking a ritual atmosphere
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Area surface: 13,808.04 sqm
Building surface: 4,223.59 sqm
Building max height: 23 m
Tower height: 30 m
TAGS: China, Guizhou Province, West-line studio, Cultural Center, Shui Minority, Concrete Architecture, Chinese Architecture, Pitched Roof, Concrete, Bronze
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The project focuses and researches on these main aspects:
1. Regional Connection: local peak-cluster landform
2. Public Life: contemporary public life model of Shui minority group in China
3. Ritual Atmosphere: bronze drums and altars used in Shui’s sacrifices
4. Lighting Atmosphere: filter Shui’s unique pictograms
5. Construction: handcrafted + industrial materials
CHALLENGE: The main challenge has been to turn those typical and ritual elements of Shui minority’s culture, together with the whole scenario they used to create during Bronze Age traditional rites, into a contemporary public space.
ADDED DATE: 2018-02-06 04:49:25
TEAM MEMBERS (8) : - Design: Haobo Wei, Jingsong Xie, - Architecture and Landscape: Yudan Luo, - Site Construction Control: Haobo Wei, Minghua Ou, - Interior Design: Martina Muratori, - Structure: Yuanping Li, Xiaoqiang Yang, - Equipment: Hongbo Shi, - Research: Lanyu Xu, Danjing Zhong, Zhili Yin, Jing Shi, Yulan Xu and - Graphic: Martina Muratori, Jinda Zheng
IMAGE CREDITS: Photo: Jingsong Xie, Jinda Zheng
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: Copyrights belong to West-line Studio, 2017.
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